Sliding closure for receptacles



Dec. 16, 1947. E. R. WITHERSPOON 2,432,846

' SLIDING CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES Original Filed Nov. 15, 1936 Patented Dec. 16,1947

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 11, 1942, Serial No. 438,605, which is a division of application Serial No. 110,573, November 13, 1936. Divided and this applcation December 6, 1945, Serial No.

Patent No. 2,390,568, which was a division of application Serial No. 110,573, filed November 13, 1936, and now Patent No. 2,379,356. n

One object of the invention is a novel and improved container or box for bonbons, cigarettes and the like.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application wherein:

Figs. 1 to 7 are views of a refillable compact embodying the invention.

Figs. 8. 9 and 10 are perspective views of bonbon boxes or containers embodying one form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, I have illustrated a compact embodying one form of my invention. The invention is embodied in a compact I, having a bottom! and a lid 3, and it is understood that the compact may be of any shape, form or construction desired, so long as it embodies the refillable fastening feature of the invention. The refill is indicated at 4 and this embodies a base 5 which is compacted on its upper surface with powder 6 or the like to be carried by the base 5. The base 5 of the refill carries on the underside thereof a fastening tongue 1 which is tapered in width, as indicated, and which is curved to have on one side a convex edge 8 and on its other side a concave edge 9. In the particular embodiment shown the tongue I is formed integrally with a main body part 1' which is secured in any suitable manner fiat against the base 5 of the refill. This body part I may be soldered, welded or otherwise fastened to the base 5 or it may be provided with an integral fastening clip I which is passed through a slot II formed in the base 5, extended along the upper surface of the base to the periphery thereof, and then passed around the edge to and in contact with the lower surface thereof. The clip It thus forms a U-grip about the edge of the base 5, Cooperating with this fastening tongue I is a tongue 12 fastened to the bottom 2 of the casing. This tongue I2 extends inwardly from a main body part l3 lying flat against the bottom 2 and soldered or otherwise fastened thereto. The body part 13 may, if desired, also be fastened to the bottom 2 by means of an integrally formed clip M which is passed downwardly through a slot l5 formed in the bottom 2 and then extended outwardly along the 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-41) 2 bottom surface of the bottom 2 to the peripheral edge l6 of the casing where it then passes through another slot or opening similar to l5 and the end I! of the clip is then flattened against the upper surface of the bottom 2 as shown in the drawing. With the construction shown, the refill 4 may be readily inserted in place or removed from the casing with the tongue [2 extending beyond the center of the casing, and with the particular form and shape of the tongue I the inserting and removing operations are simplified and facilitated. For example, when it is desired to remove an insert 4, a combined pressing down and twisting movement of the refill with respect to the bottom casing will facilitate the disengagement of the tongue I from underneath the tongue 12. Similarly, when the refill 4 is inserted, it is first positioned in the casing with the tongue 1 or the outer end thereof disposed to one side of the tongue 12, whereupon the refill is given a similar movement to bring the tongue 7 underneath the tongue l2, as indicated in Fig. '7, the turned up end of tongue l2 (Fig. 2) facilitating the engagement. The insertion of a refill may be effected by positioning the same on the shallow bottom part 2 with the tip of the tapered tongue I in a position to slide under the tip of the tongue [2 and then imparting to the refill and the bottom part 2 relative sliding and rotary movements to bring the concave side 9 of the tongue 1 into the position indicated in Fig. 7. The refill and fastening means for the refill and case may be very inexpensively manufactured on a quantity production basis and the refill may be removed very simply and with the greatest facility without the need for any special tools. Practice has demonstrated that the particular shape of the tongue 1 with the convex and concave sides contributes toward and facilitates the interlocking and disengagement operations.

Referring to Fig. 8, I have illustrated certain features of the invention as being embodied in a bonbon box or the like 20, the latter having the usual bottom 2| which is of larger dimensions than the box proper, and a lid 22 is provided which may or may not be of substantially the same lateral and longitudinal dimensions as the bottom 2|. The lid 22 is provided with a tongue 1 similar to the tongue 1 of Figs. 1 to 7, that is, the tongue I is of similar shape and construction and is fastened in any suitable manner to the bottom side of the lid 22, preferably near the center thereof as, for example, being fastened thereto in a manner similar to the fastening described in Figs. 1 to 5, The box proper carries 3 near the upper edge thereof and on one side a leaf 23 of the particular shape shown, and on the upper side of this leaf 23 is provided a tongue l2, similar to the tongue l2 of Figs. 1 to 7. This tongue [2 may be fastened in any suitable manner to the leaf 23, as for example according to the manner disclosed in Figs. 1 to '7. The lid 22 is preferably flat and is not provided with any rim for attachment to the box 20. Its attachment to the box is effected by sliding the tongue 1 underneath the tongue l2, preferably by slight up and down movements, as described above in connection with the compact. The lid 22 is preferably flat and therefore may be readily disposed underneath the bottom 2| with the box resting on the lid and this is a convenience as compared with the usual structures wherein the lids are necessarily provided with rims to enable their attachment to the boxes.

Fig. 9 shows a slight modification from that shown in Fig. 8 wherein the box is provided with a bridge extending crosswise thereof, which bridge carries the complementary fastening tongue l2 and it is understood that a perfectly flat lid, similar .to lid 2 is provided for the modification of Fig. 9. The advantages of the modification of Fig. 8 apply to this Fig. 9.

A further modification of the box is shown in Fig. 10 wherein a box 26 of generally circular form is shown which has a pedestal or pillow 21 extending up from the bottom thereof and forming a support for the tongue 12. A lid or cover 26 for this box is provided, generally similar to Fig.

2, with the tongue I for cooperation with the tongue I2 except that the lid or cover in Fig. 10 is preferably of circular shape. In all three modifications of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the lid or cover not only may be readily attached or detached with the greatest facility, but it may be placed out of the way by merely positioning it underneath the box and resting the box upon it. Bonbon boxes of the character shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 may be wrapped with sanitary paper or the like, such for example as Cellophane, and such wrapping together with the fastening means I and I2, 23, 25 and 21 securely hold the lid in covered position upon the box.

The upper surfaces of the parts 23, 25 and 21 are preferably slightly below the upper edge of the casing so as to permit the lid in each case to lie flat against the peripheral edge of the casing with the fasteners I and I2 therebetween. If desired the members 25 and 2'! may be hollowed out to accommodate the two fastening elements. My special idea is to use box with bar in center, Fig. 9 in drawing, using cover 22 for box, as automobile cigarette box. This box is placed on inside of door of glove-box, which drops down under windshield of automobile.

I claim:

A container of the character set forth, comprising a casing forming an interior chamber of predetermined depth, a fastener supporting member having an upper flat surface approximately at the upper level of the casing, a metallic tongue fastening element attached at one end only fiat against the upper surface of said member and extending from a line of attachment in a direction to receive a second fastening element and a flat lid for said casing having a cooperating fastening element similarly attached flat against the bottom surface thereof and detachably engaging underneath the first-mentioned fastening element within the casing, said last-mentioned element being tapered and having a curved edge lying against said line of attachment.

EDITH R. WITHERSPOON. 

